SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Information

SARS-CoV-2 also known as COVID-19 virus has caused a worldwide pandemic resulting in over 500,000 deaths in the United States alone to date. The rate and mode of transmission is rapid and linked to close contact, person to person, respiratory droplets and airborne particles. Prior to release of three currently approved vaccines, the only way to stop or slow progression of transmission was to wear a mask, use of proper hand hygiene and social distancing. With the release of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines, over 174, 879, 716 doses have been administered to Americans. These vaccines have shown to safe and efficacious against the COVID-19 virus. The decision to get vaccinated or not remains up to the individual person, the end goal is to safely end this year long pandemic and global health crisis.

Many of our patient have questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and how it works. The University of Texas Medical Branch has put together great information that explains how the vaccine works and answers frequently asked questions
- Please visit https://www.utmb.edu/covid-19/vaccine for more details
We would like to thank the University of Texas Medical Branch and Galveston Nation Laboratory for “cracking the code on COVID-19” by sequencing the viral genetic data and creating the synthetic mRNA provided to manufacture the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Currently at the time this blog was written, Texas has opened vaccination to all adults and children over the age of 16 years. Here is a quick link where you can sign up with Tarrant County to get vaccinated online: https://tcph.quickbase.com/db/bq98sxk7f
Tarrant County is also hosting several events where you can register in person. The list of events can be found here: https://www.tarrantcounty.com/en/news/2021/here-s-a-chance-to-register-for-the-covid-19-vaccine.html

Author

Dr. Thomas J. Purgason, M.D., FACP, PA

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